Bill Bond MBE checking the guests list
with the Biggin Hill Bell
Saturday 27th August will remain the most memorable day of the year and probably that for a number of years I may still have left.
I was taking part in the 70th Anniversary Event of The Battle of Britain organised by The Battle of Britain Historical Society and acting as one of the Event Organisers.
On Friday afternoon I left Halifax on the new direct train service to London King Cross now operated by Grand Central Railways. It starts in Bradford, collects at Halifax and Brighouse and then with stops at Wakefield and Pontefract the last stop being Doncaster before going non stop to London. This saves changing in Leeds or Wakefield. New rolling stock and comfortable clean seating and normal type buffet.
From King Cross I took the Underground to Heathrows new Terminal 5 and then a shuttle bus to my Hotel, the Ibis, which is situated some distance away from the airport.
Saturday morning woke up to clear blue skys and a good breakfast before taking the shuttle bus back to Terminal 5 where the event was to start with a reception in the adjoining luxury hotel.
I found the Organiser and Society founder Bill Bond there with his wife and another helper and we put up 4 large posters showing the details of the day with pictures from the 1940's of the Battle of Britain Veterans who were to join us.
We were then joined by representatives of two companies who sponsored the event - 'Find My Past' a major UK Internet Genealogy company whoa re also sponsoring out society School Memorial Plaques and The John Lewis Partnership who operate major stores throughout the UK.
We then started to welcome the first arrivals into the reception area where the Hotel had arranged soft drinks to be available.
Soon the Veterans and their own family members and friends came into be greeted by Bill Bond, proudly wearing the Decorations awarded for their valiant war time service, including the Battle of Britain Clasp on the 1939-46 War Medal.
I had taken copies of a folder listing the 106 Men of the Battle included on the 50 School Memorial Plaques so far presented in England, Scotland and Canada, and these were distributed around the tables and during the morning I was able to show some of the Veterans the names of other members of their Squadrons who had been recognised by our Society, many of course had been sadly killed in action.
One of the Society Patrons is the well known Actor Edward Fox and he was present to meet and greet everyone and give a rousing address of welcome.
A welcome glass of Champagne was served followed by a Buffet lunch during which we were joined by the Pilots and Cabin Crew of the British Airways ' Airbus ' which was the take us on the Memorial Flight in the afternoon.
The Veterans waiting to Board and facing the Media !
On Board - I was allocated a nice window seat just behind the wing of the aircraft so along with many other we indulged ourselves taking pictures of the Hurricane and Spitfire escorts for most of this amazing flight from the Isle of Wight to the Thames and back.
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